Questions for Appointment

I would say write down the questions in your head however trivial they may seem. Take someone with you if you can/want to (i always prefer to be by myself) as they may think of something you havent. Ask about treatment and effects particularly long term effects.  Is everything being advised necessary and if so why/what are the benefits. Im sure folk will come up with many more useful questions. Good luck with your treatment and recovery xx

Hi when my wife saw her surgeon there was a Breast Care nurse present.   After the surgeon had finished the nurse provided Lorraine with a green book that covered various areas and provided her with a contact number if she had any questions.  As Suzs has suggested if you can take someone with you it is a second pair of ears.  If there is something you don't understand ask them to go over it again.Best wishes for your 1st oncologist appointment xx

Hi, here's some info from the Macmillan site that you might find useful for questions. Questions to Ask Link

Also. don't be afraid to write down the answers and ask if you need something to be repeated or explained.  Take your time and make sure you understand, I wish I had done that better in my early appointments.

Best wishes 

Hello, I am sorry to read that you find yourself in this club which nobody wants to join.

Getting the biopsies done is soo painful isn't. It.

However, you have been told your basic diagnosis and are facing the results of your scans - I have been there because my cancer has spread to my lymph nodes.

You need to take a deep breath and sit with a note book and write down questions you can tink if.  Carry that notebook around with you because a question might come to mind at any time (I found my questions when doing mundane housework jobs).  Write your questions on your list as soon as you think of them.

You will be given a lot of information and your brain might not be able to take everything in!

You MUST take a family member or close friend with you to your appointment.  If you know anybody who has a medical background ask them to go with you because they can go into information your consultant gives you in more depth.

Your family member / friend can take notes.

If you haven't got anybody who can go with you then ask if a breast care nurse can go in with you (mine did on a couple of occasions when my daughter wasn't able to go with me).

Once your medical team have all your biopsies and scans results things will move very quickly so be prepared to be told all about what treatment and care is planned for you and that care will probably start within a couple of weeks after your appointment - they do not keep you waiting!

Once you have been to your appointment no doubt a lot of questions will suddenly come to you - you must not let them fester - phone your breast care nursing team and ask those questions - they are there to support you - it is their job!

I cannot think of any questions for you to ask because everybody is different.

However, I send you gentle hugs and good wishes for a speedy recovery after your treatments.xx

In my experience you will have 2 appointments. In the first they will take you through the treatment plan, give you information sheets on the drugs concerned. In the second, probably a week later, they will seek your consent. So there’s plenty of time to go through information and to talk to others who have been through it. 

If you are offered chemo you may find they offer you a PICC line to protect your veins. It’s really important to avoid vein damage. As someone who wanted to try to continue to swim and run during chemo, I knew a PICC line would impact on my life. I therefore requested a port at my first appointment making a case about desire to maintain fitness and the impact on me mentally if I couldn’t. It was successful. I guess what I am saying is make sure oncology understand your priorities. They will do their best to work with them. 

Thank you. Yes, so painful in the days after. 2 weeks later and my boob is still purple and yellow! x